Man dead after standoff with Ecorse police

ECORSE >> A man was shot and killed following a standoff with police at June’s Mobile Home Village near Southfield Road Tuesday morning.

The 48-year-old man is believed to be a resident of Ohio, his name was not released.

Ecorse Public Safety Director Michael Moore said the number of rounds used to kill the man, and other details of the incident were not immediately available, pending an investigation by the Michigan State Police.

Police were notified of the situation shortly before 9 a.m. when an employee of the mobile home community called about an unruly person in one of the residences. The employee called back minutes later to tell police that the man in the mobile home was shooting at him, according to Moore.

“The caller stated that he observed blood at the scene,” Moore said. “The caller then returned to the scene and called a second time ... indicated the man was shooting at him.”

Officers were dispatched to the scene, and arrived within two minutes of the second call. Members of the Downriver SWAT team were called in and officers attempted to talk to the shooter.

“The individual responded by firing at the armored vehicle,” Moore said. “He then turned his weapon in the direction of police officers on the scene threatening the safety of the officers.”

The suspect had a handgun, Moore couldn’t say anymore on what caliber of weapon was used.

Moore said this was the first officer involved shooting in the city, but stressed that it was a member of the Downriver SWAT team, not the Ecorse Police Department that fired the shot or shots. He did not say which area department the officer was a part of.

It is unknown why the man was in the mobile home park, or what caused him to become distraught and start firing his weapon.

Officers began clearing the scene at about 11:45 a.m.

This is the second major crime to happen in the city in as many weeks. A large scale marijuana grow house was busted with more than 420 plants in various stages of growth last week.

That bust also utilized a combined team as the Down River Area Narcotics Team made the bust.

“This is a real high-profile incident, that you prepare for,” Moore said. “Luckily it turned out OK for everyone. Our officers did what they’re supposed to.”

Contact Dave Herndon at dherndon@heritage.com and @NHDaveH on Twitter.